Napa gator, new resort, new farmer's market (?), and other news 🐊
Issue 60
NEWS (TO US)
All the latest scoops
Napa Gator. A rash of stickers around town claim the gator is real.
Have you seen it?
The Elene. New resort coming to Solano Ave.
The former Red Hen site is trading eggs for elegance. With a Fall 2026 opening, this Mosaic Hotel boutique resort promises 50 guest rooms, an upscale restaurant, and a new reason to drive down Solano.
(Kaiser) Farmers Market. New Monday farmers market approved
A little mysterious — affiliated with our existing market? New market? In any events, more chances to choose chard over Cheetos.
Thirdspace. Officially open!
And it’s where we wrote this very issue!
Napa Music Hall. Uptown’s sister venue opens next week!
In the former Blue Note / Opera House space.
Sake. All-you-can-eat sushi joint now open on Imola.
Finally! I am so sick of a-little-less-than-you-can-eat sushi.
Roman Holiday Gelato. Opening at Oxbow Public Market Summer 2026. Gelato lovers, rejoice! This St. Helena favorite is bringing its handcrafted Italian scoops to Napa, setting up shop next to Sumo Dog this August. We’re already dreaming of pistachio and stracciatella.
Normandie. Now open in downtown Napa
In the age of robot baristas, Normandie is reviving tableside service.
Don Perico’s. Returns to downtown Napa this summer.
This is not a drill—Don Perico’s is coming back to First Street! Sizzling fajitas, housemade chili verde, and margaritas. Pace yourselves.
George + Kin’s Diner. Now open in Bel Aire Plaza.
Heritage Eats fans, meet your new obsession.
Charlie Palmer Steak. Steakhouse Archer Napa Hotel has closed.
No more steak frites at sunset? Say it ain’t so.
Casa Mani. BOA Steakhouse opening in the newly renovated resort.
Lose a steakhouse, gain a steakhouse. Great, BUT: Will they have a bloomin’ onion?
Strawberry Patch. Reopens for the season on Silverado Trail.
It’s officially berry season! Swing by 2149 Silverado Trail for fresh strawberries daily.
The Card Shop. Opens on El Centro Ave
Charizard fans, this one’s for you. Stop by 1882 El Centro Ave Friday through Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM, to trade cards, relive your childhood, or maybe even start a new obsession.
Good Pantry. Introduces Fund My Future program
A program supporting amazing young Napa entrepreneurs — aka kids who are somehow already more productive than we are.
Pick My Fruit. New Napa gleaning/fruit sharing website
Your lemons are ripening. Your neighbors are noticing. List them before things get weird.
Napa Humane. Dog treat label contest!
Your pooch could be featured on Napa Humane’s next run of dog treats!
Over the Hill
Southwest Airlines. Launches inaugural flight to Sonoma Airport.
The Las Vegas-to-Sonoma route is officially live! Snoopy was there (yes, really), and now you can be too. And get this: Southwest is letting you check a case of wine for free. That’s not some dumb Villager joke, that’s real!
Museum of Sonoma County. Punk Scene Exhibit Now Open
It’s not Napa, buttt… how cool! This exhibit dives into Sonoma’s underground music history from the ’70s to the ’90s.
Starling Bar (Sonoma). Closed after nearly a decade.
Sonoma is losing a gem.
COMING IN HOT
Events and happenings
Apr 17: Sonoma County’s Punk Scene Exhibit. Museum of Sonoma County (Santa Rosa), $12
Apr 17: An Almost Famous Evening with Director Cameron Crowe. True West (Healdsburg), $350 (donation)
Apr 17-Sept 26: At Work: Industries that Built the Valley. Historic Goodman Library, free
Apr 18: Earth Day Festival. Oxbow Commons, free
Apr 18: Covet Jewelry Dish Workshop. Covet Ceramics, $95 (incl. materials, pizza, and wine)
Apr 18-26: Friends of the Napa Library Booksale. Napa Main Library, free but buy some books
Apr 19: Mothers Napa Cars & Carnitas Classic Car Meet. Mothers, free
Apr 21: The Wallflowers. Uptown Theatre, $60+
Apr 23: Mondovino (documentary screening). Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma). $16
Apr 23: The Next Table - Honoring Charles Phan (dinner experience). PRESS, $200
Apr 23-26: Napa Valley StreamFest. Various locations, prices vary
Apr 25: Drag Show Brunch. The Garden, $44
Apr 25: The Mr. Pink Party. Compline / First Street Complex, $85+
Apr 26: Flavors of Film: Coco. CIA Copia, $8+
Apr 28: Preserve Your Past – Napa Valley Genealogical Society and Napa Library Memory Lab. Napa County Library, free
Apr 29: The Wedding Present (live music). Gundlach Bundschu, $79
Apr 30: Napa Valley Distillery: Iron Shaker Cocktail Competition. First Street Plaza, $50
Apr 30: Art, Craft, Color with Lisa Solomon. Napa County Library, Free
Advance Notice
May 2: Opening Day on the River. Napa Riverfront, free family fun
May 3: Bikefest. Oxbow Commons, free
May 4: Alla Norma Italian Feast. Valley, the price of pasta
Jun 20: Rock the Ride. Yountville, $40+
Paid subscribers: Check out our Events Calendar for the fullest list of goings on!
Unpaid subscribers: Pay us and then check out the events calendar! Or borrow someone’s password, that’s what we’d do.